MN HF4114

Establishes a claims process administered by the Office of Administrative Hearings to compensate businesses negatively affected by termination of a specific biomass plant contract identified under Minnesota Statutes section 116C.779.

Eligible businesses must have been operating under a valid contract or demonstrated ongoing business relationship with the biomass plant as of May 1, 2017, and may claim compensation for decreased net revenue and loss of investment value in essential property.

Awards cannot exceed twice the eligible business's average annual net revenue from the biomass plant contract over the past five years, and compensation is reduced by alternative business opportunities, insurance payments, and property salvage values.

Establishes a biomass business compensation account in the special revenue fund with $20,000,000 transferred from the renewable development account on July 1, 2018, and July 1, 2019, with priority given to claims demonstrating significant mitigation efforts and large percentage losses.

Application process must be available by August 1, 2018, with claim deadline of October 1, 2018, settlement offers by October 1, 2019, and the entire program expires June 30, 2021.